"I honestly believe that it's better to be a total failure doing something you love than be a huge success doing something you hate."

— George Burns

An honored comedian who became even more famous as the original Hollywood Cool Old Guy.

George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum, January 20, 1896 – March 9, 1996) played in Vaudeville and eventually started a double act with a young woman, Gracie Allen. However, Burns soon found that while she was his comic foil, she was getting more laughs with her comments than his best jokes. Being humble enough to bow to reality, Burns flipped the act and became the Straight Man and Grace Allen carried the heavy comedic lifting as the team, Burns and Allen, went on to great success on stage, radio and television.

After Allen died in 1964, Burns worked on a lower level until 1975, when he got a de facto starring role in The Sunshine Boys as a old comedian coming out of retirement to work for a partner even though they can't stand each other. That role got him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which made him the oldest male winner in the Actor division (he was 80) until Christopher Plummer won at age 82.

After that splash, Burns reshaped his image as a beloved old comedian who could hold the spotlight against any young rival with ease. He further buttressed his fame with his Oh, God! film series where his playing of God further played on his incredible longevity as a performer.

Until his death a few months after hitting 100, Burns had a secure public image as a pop star who had been around forever.

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